Shoe-clasp



(No Model.) I

' J O. HAMMOND, Jr.

$1103 CLASP. No. 324,107." "Patente'd Augll', 1885-.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JOSEPH HAMMOND, JR, OF ROCKVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

SHOE-CLASP.

QPECIIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,107, dated August 11 1885.

Application filed June 17, 1885. (No model.)

State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Clasps, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

where-- Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the tongue and plate of a shoe-clasp embodying my improvement, showing also the connecting-strap. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the tongue and plate. Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section along one of the side bars of the tongue-plate on plane denoted by line 00 m of Fig. I. The tongue is shown in full lines as closed, and in dotted lines as raised. Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section of the tongue on plane denoted by line y y of Fig. l.

The object of my invention is to produce a tongue and the supporting tongue-plate with the parts so constructed and combined as to embody in the one structure the feature of adjustability usually found in the take-up or catch-plate.

My invention consists in the combination of atongue-platewith anumber of sockets formed in both the side bars of the frame-like plate, and a tongue having an integral pivot so formed as to engage in such sockets whenthe tongue is closed, the tongue being movable along the plate for the purpose of adjustment when it is raised, as more particularly hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, where like letters of reference indicate the same parts throughout, the'letter a denotes the tongueplate, which is formed, preferably, of sheet metal stamped or cut to shape, with parts of the substance of the plate cut away, so that when the upper leaf, to, is folded or doubled back upon the leaf the central opening, b, gives to the tongue-plate a frame-like appearance. The transverse slot 0 across the free ends of the plate forms an opening for the passage of the end of the loop d, by means of which the tongue-plate is connected to an article of wearing-apparel, the ends of the plate being held together by the loop. In the upper leaf of the side bars of the tongue-plate are formed a plural number of downwardopening sockets e, while in the side bars of the lower leaf, a are formed the sockets e, these sockets e and ein the respective side bars of the plate being directly over each other. The tongue f is of ordinary form and construction, except as to its integral pivot f, which bears the lugs f,which project downward when the tongue is in its closed position, so as to project into the sockets e in the lower leaf of the tongue-plate, while the upper edge of the pivots f is at the same time held in the socketse of the upper leaf. This tongue-plate is prefer ably of spring metal, so that when the free ends are held together, as by the loop of the strap d, the plates between the ends may be sprung slightly apart from each other. This tongue f is located in the central opening, I), in the tongue plate, and is movable along this opening from end to end thereof when the tongue is raised to the position indicated in dotted outlines inFig. 8, as by raising the tongue to this position the lugs f are lifted out of the sockets e, and the upper edge of the pivots is turned downward out of the upper sockets, leaving the tongue free to be slid along be tween the plates. When the tongue is in this raisedposition, the loop of a catch-plate or likepart is slipped over the tongue, and the latter, while held in this raised position, is slid along 'betweenthe leaves of the tongueplate until the parts of the article, as a shoe, are drawn sufficiently near together, when the tongue is closed down into the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 3, and locked there by the edge of the pivots and the lugs taking into the several sockets. By means of this peculiar construction I have embodied in the tongue-plate the feature of adjustability usually found in the take-up or catch-plate, and the tongue holds the loop of the catch-plate with but slight chance of accidental release; but I do not limit myself to this particular embodiment of my idea, as it may be varied in details without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with a tongue-plate hearing a series of engaging sockets, a hook-shaped tongue pivotally connected to the plate, movable along it when raised, and having pivots with engaging lugs or shoulders, that co'opcrate with the sockets in the tongue'plate in eated, and having two or more pivot-sockets holding the tongue when closed, all substanin each of the upper and lower leaves of the I5 tially as described. side bars and a hook-shaped tongue with in- 2. In combination, a tongue-plate, a, with tegral pivots adapted to engage the respective 5 central opening, I), and upper and lower leaves, sockets, and whereby the tongue is movable a a, in which are formed pivot-sockets e and between the two leaves of each side bar when 0, and the tongue f, with the integral pivots the tongue is raised, and engages in sockets 20 f, located between the several side bars, and when the latter is closed, all substantially as having the lugs f adapted to engage in the described.

I0 sockets in the side bars, all substantially as JOSEPH C. HAMMOND, JR.

described. \Vitnesses:

3. In co1nbination,a tongue-plate, a, with H. R. WILLIAMS, central opening, I), in which the tongue is 10- A. G. TANNER. 

